Dentist
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: From a beautiful part of Scotland, now in Colorado
Posts: 265
Dentist
I have toothache and am trying to psych myself up to visit a dentist. I hate all things medical and avoid them as much as possible, so in my two years here I have not been near a dentist. Prior to that it must have been at least six years since I last saw an NHS dentist, before they went private and chucked everyone off their list.
Can anyone give me a rough estimate on costs? Is it going to cost me 500 bucks just to walk through the door the first time? I suspect I'll be looking at replacement fillings, maybe a crown, and they might want to hoik out a wisdom tooth or two.
Is dentistry here better (especially less painful) than the UK? I am the biggest coward on the planet when it comes to teeth - I generally have a complete meltdown before I even get to the chair (my last dentist had to remind me to breathe while I was in). I've never experienced a private dentist in the UK so all I've got to go on are my (mostly bad) encounters with NHS dentists.
Please persuade me it's a wonderful experience beaten only by lying on a desert island beach having grapes peeled for me!
Can anyone give me a rough estimate on costs? Is it going to cost me 500 bucks just to walk through the door the first time? I suspect I'll be looking at replacement fillings, maybe a crown, and they might want to hoik out a wisdom tooth or two.
Is dentistry here better (especially less painful) than the UK? I am the biggest coward on the planet when it comes to teeth - I generally have a complete meltdown before I even get to the chair (my last dentist had to remind me to breathe while I was in). I've never experienced a private dentist in the UK so all I've got to go on are my (mostly bad) encounters with NHS dentists.
Please persuade me it's a wonderful experience beaten only by lying on a desert island beach having grapes peeled for me!
#2
Re: Dentist
I have toothache and am trying to psych myself up to visit a dentist. I hate all things medical and avoid them as much as possible, so in my two years here I have not been near a dentist. Prior to that it must have been at least six years since I last saw an NHS dentist, before they went private and chucked everyone off their list.
Can anyone give me a rough estimate on costs? Is it going to cost me 500 bucks just to walk through the door the first time? I suspect I'll be looking at replacement fillings, maybe a crown, and they might want to hoik out a wisdom tooth or two.
Is dentistry here better (especially less painful) than the UK? I am the biggest coward on the planet when it comes to teeth - I generally have a complete meltdown before I even get to the chair (my last dentist had to remind me to breathe while I was in). I've never experienced a private dentist in the UK so all I've got to go on are my (mostly bad) encounters with NHS dentists.
Please persuade me it's a wonderful experience beaten only by lying on a desert island beach having grapes peeled for me!
Can anyone give me a rough estimate on costs? Is it going to cost me 500 bucks just to walk through the door the first time? I suspect I'll be looking at replacement fillings, maybe a crown, and they might want to hoik out a wisdom tooth or two.
Is dentistry here better (especially less painful) than the UK? I am the biggest coward on the planet when it comes to teeth - I generally have a complete meltdown before I even get to the chair (my last dentist had to remind me to breathe while I was in). I've never experienced a private dentist in the UK so all I've got to go on are my (mostly bad) encounters with NHS dentists.
Please persuade me it's a wonderful experience beaten only by lying on a desert island beach having grapes peeled for me!
#3
Re: Dentist
Dentists hate you and want you dead. Fact.
Most of the American dentists I've come into contact with are robbing bastards. If I'm told I need a root canal, my solution is simply to change my dentist. Funny how the next dentist, after examining me, never mentions such a need...
Most of the American dentists I've come into contact with are robbing bastards. If I'm told I need a root canal, my solution is simply to change my dentist. Funny how the next dentist, after examining me, never mentions such a need...
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: From a beautiful part of Scotland, now in Colorado
Posts: 265
Re: Dentist
$900 for root canal!!
I do have dental insurance, but I don't know what it covers. Might have to keep going with the painkillers till I can figure that out!
I do have dental insurance, but I don't know what it covers. Might have to keep going with the painkillers till I can figure that out!
#6
Re: Dentist
Mind you (from Tonrobs post) I have been told that I need an old root canal sorting out, but that is a referral (but who knows what commission or relationship they have)
#7
Re: Dentist
Depending on where you live, you can also look for a teaching clinic/hospital which can offer services for lower cost.
Do not delay. The longer you wait the more expensive it gets.
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 906
Re: Dentist
Our dentist charges $50 for a 5 minute checkup, X-rays $68, hygienist clean $94, filling $190 and a crown is $1100.
#9
Re: Dentist
Our check up's are covered by insurance but whenever I have needed anything done, root canal, crown it's been a few hundred even with insurance.
#10
Banned
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: New York City
Posts: 563
Re: Dentist
Is dentistry here better (especially less painful) than the UK?
I even had a root canal a couple of years ago and I survived it quite easily. When I got to the root canal doctor, I burst into tears I was so scared, but he was so kind and gentle too. That cost me about $1,000, but it did save the tooth.
Mind you (from Tonrobs post) I have been told that I need an old root canal sorting out, but that is a referral (but who knows what commission or relationship they have)
One thing I hated though was the dental dam. I was sure I was doing to suffocate.
#11
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Dentist
I have toothache and am trying to psych myself up to visit a dentist. I hate all things medical and avoid them as much as possible, so in my two years here I have not been near a dentist. Prior to that it must have been at least six years since I last saw an NHS dentist, before they went private and chucked everyone off their list.
Can anyone give me a rough estimate on costs? Is it going to cost me 500 bucks just to walk through the door the first time? I suspect I'll be looking at replacement fillings, maybe a crown, and they might want to hoik out a wisdom tooth or two.
Is dentistry here better (especially less painful) than the UK? I am the biggest coward on the planet when it comes to teeth - I generally have a complete meltdown before I even get to the chair (my last dentist had to remind me to breathe while I was in). I've never experienced a private dentist in the UK so all I've got to go on are my (mostly bad) encounters with NHS dentists.
Please persuade me it's a wonderful experience beaten only by lying on a desert island beach having grapes peeled for me!
Can anyone give me a rough estimate on costs? Is it going to cost me 500 bucks just to walk through the door the first time? I suspect I'll be looking at replacement fillings, maybe a crown, and they might want to hoik out a wisdom tooth or two.
Is dentistry here better (especially less painful) than the UK? I am the biggest coward on the planet when it comes to teeth - I generally have a complete meltdown before I even get to the chair (my last dentist had to remind me to breathe while I was in). I've never experienced a private dentist in the UK so all I've got to go on are my (mostly bad) encounters with NHS dentists.
Please persuade me it's a wonderful experience beaten only by lying on a desert island beach having grapes peeled for me!
At my dentist (my insurance seems to cover about 60% of the total cost) my portions have been; fillings between $100.00 and $170.00 depending on the tooth. Root canal (including crown) was just under $1,000.00. My wife had a wisdom tooth removed and it was only $25.00. Extractions are usually pretty cheap, I think - all you pay for really is the novocaine.
I ****ing hate the dentist - I'm not a fan of pain and I can't be doing with people faffing around in my mouth at all. Don't like it. The root canal was only done because the pain of the giant hole (I saw the X-ray, it was bloody huge) in my tooth was so agonising there was little else I could do.
#12
Banned
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: New York City
Posts: 563
Re: Dentist
I don't know whether this is the case for everyone, but my dentist is not trained for extractions. Unlike the UK, American dentists don't extract teeth at the drop of a hat. If I needed an extraction, I would have to visit yet another specialist.
#13
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
#14
Re: Dentist
Wow, as a young man (twenty-four) these prices are currently half my monthly wage in full time employment. I had part of a tooth fall out a few month ago and have been unable to eat on that side of my mouth, I've yet to get dental insurance, still waiting on the workside to get the papers back to me.
#15
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Dentist
Wow, as a young man (twenty-four) these prices are currently half my monthly wage in full time employment. I had part of a tooth fall out a few month ago and have been unable to eat on that side of my mouth, I've yet to get dental insurance, still waiting on the workside to get the papers back to me.
The majority of our credit card debt comes from paying dental bills, right after unexpected horrendously overpriced car repairs ...